Torpedo trap or guard.



L. E. ARMSTRONG.

TORPEDO TRAP OR GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25.1917.

' Patented J une 4, 1918.

ira

LOUISE. ARMSTRONG, OF PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.

ToRrEno TRAP on GUARD.

'To all'wkom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS E. ARMSTRONG, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pensacola and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Torpedo Traps or Guards, 0t whichthe -following is a specification, refer ence being had therein to the accompanying drawing. a

This invention-relates to a torpedo trap or guard, and has for its principal object the production of an improvement uponmy prior application-filed 'March 29, 1917, and

bearing Serial Number 158,339.

Another object of this invention is the production ofa torpedo trap or guard which is provided with simple and eflioient supporting means forthe primary not so arranged as to permitthis net to be lifted clear *oflthe water when the same is notin use.

is provided with an efficient supporting means for the tanks, whereby'when-so desiredthe supporting means may be elevated for facilitating the liftingof the tanks to a,

point adjacent the sides of the ship;

Astill further object of this invention is the'production of a torpedo trap or guard which is provided with an eflicient supporting me'ans for the primary net,-arranged so asto cause the net'to be at all times carried adjacent the water, while the same is in use, andwhich is provided with forked arms for checking the inward swinging motion of the net when the same-is struck by a torpedo.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists of certain novel eombina tions and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. 1

' illustrating the manner in whichthe clamps are employed in retaining these arms in set positions. :-.I. v a 1 .1

Fig, ,4. is a section taken on line la-Lot Fig. 1, looking ins-the directionof thearrow. Fig.;,5 is, a fragmentary seotionalz view Specification of Letters Patent.

Another object of this invention is the production of a torpedo trap or guard whlch Patented June 4, 1918.

Application filed July 25, 1917. Serial No. 182,759.

1 through a portion of the primary net, illustrating the manner in which a lifting cable is woven therethrough.

. By referring to the accompanying drawing by.numerals, it will be seen that the torpedo trap or guard is to be used upon the hull -1 of a ship. This hull 1 is provided with a longitudinally extending shaft 2, carried in any suitable manner by brackets 3 mounted within the hull 1, while this shaft 2 W111 be'rotated by any suitable driving means, not being deemed necessary to be herein shown.- The-finger 4 is keyed in any suitable manner upon the shaft 2, so that when the.

shaft is rotated, rotary motion will be im parted to this finger. The hull 1 is provided with a slot 5 formed therethrough, so as to permit the finger 4 to communicate with the exterior portion of the hull, as shown in Figs. 1 and 41. Tracks 6 are secured in direct relation upon the outer side of the hull 1, and hate overhanging flanges 7 which fit upon the elongated plate 8, slidably mounted upon the outer side of the hull 1. Thus, it will be seen that the flanges 7 will hold the plate against accidental displacement, and as this plate is provided with an internal rack 9, which meshes with the finger 4:, the plate may be moved in a vertical plane by the retation of the finger. I I

The tank 10 is provided with an eye 11 towhich one end of the retaining link--12 is:

secured, as shown at13. The opposite end of this link 12 is securedby an eye 14 to the lower end of the plate 8. In this manner it will be seen'that the tank 10 will be held at a. spaced distance from the side of the hull 1 when the tank is resting in the water. The,

cable 15 is secured as shown at 16 to the tank 10, so that when desired the cable 15 may bedrawn inwardly upon the ship thereby raising the tank 10, while the finger 4 may be raised by the shaft2,thus, causing the plate 8 to be lifted and in this manner cause the tongue to be elevated to any position above the water line desired, even to positioning the tank at a point adjacent the outer surface of the hull 1. The tank 10 may be provided with a propeller 17 which may be operated by any suitable mechanism positioned'within the tank or at any other point desired, for relieving the hull, of the strain involved in propelling the torpedo trap or guard through the water.

An upwardly pro eoting arm 18 is fixedly mounted upon the tank 10, so as to be secured to the primary not. This primary'net comprises a plurality of foldable sections, comprising outer strands 1'9 and inner strands 20, and these strands l9 and 20 are engaged by transversely extending strands-"21:The sections of the net are secured together by links 22, whereby an elongated not having 'a broad area is constructed which may be folded when not in use. The arm 18 is secured: to the upper section of the net, thus,'

holdingthe net in spaced relation with respect to the tank 10. In order ,toholdthe is then passed around'to extend upon the op' posite sidesof the net', asshown clearly in Ei-gsl and 5 This cable 26 maybe pro: vided with a plate 27. engaging the lower section so as toprevent the cable fromslip pingithrough thenet, as the cable is being wound in anysuitable mannerupon the ship. It 1s,.oi: course, obvious that as the cable is wound. upon the ship, it-will be drawn upon the lower sections and will cause the cables to befolded upward somewhatin .fanslike manner, so that Whenthe ship is;

sailing -.und er ordinary conditions the primary netrmay becarr ed'albove the water line. At this time the propulsion power of the-tankwill cause'the tank to move along I without thenecessary dragging action by the ship. Upon sighting a torpedo or whenpassing throughsome restrictedarea the cable? 26, may be-rieleased, and at thistime the:

weight :ofwthe seotion's 'of; the net will cause the: net to move downwardly. It will'be notedithat theiclampears 28; are riveted, or therwisei-ifizzfedlyv secured, as shown at 29' to the tank 10,, and that'the upperend of the arm30 extendsbetween these ears, so as tobe held-in engagement'with these ears 28,'by the clamping-of these ears-upon the arm 30,

as the bolt '31 is' clam'ped in-setposition in engagement with the ears 28, .as illustrated in Fig-:: It-will be noted that-the'arm 30' issconsiderably longer than the arm 18 and projects outwardly and normally at a spaced distance-from thenet. The1arm'30 is pro-' vided with a plurality of fingers 32 adj acent itslower end in alinement with the lower portions of the net. Assa'consequence, when the; net is struck by a torpedothe force. imparted will drivethe net'to: each of the fingers' 32 which'will engage the net, and limit 1 manner the net will yield to the force'of'the' the swinging movementof the net. In'this torpedo; It iswobviou's that thje 'speedf 0f the torpedoqwill be-reduced' and by. the 1 time the net engages thefinger 32 anditsmovement IlS'lllTlllTGCl the torpedo will be finally stopped. As soon :asthe pressure isrelieved from the net, it will return to its normal position, as showir in -Figi 1. I

"If so desired an auxiliary net 33 may be carried by the eye 11 of the tank 10, orany other suitable. point upon thetank, so as to extend downwardly between the hull 1 of the ship, and the armfit) mounteduponithei' ank;: T

:As'has been hereinbefore set forth the n'etmay be retained above-the water line, when it is not in use orif so desiredthe-:cable 15 may be; drawnon to gthe-ship, while the plate 8 ma be lift d, so as i to cause the entiregguard. .to; be; carried: aboWwthe 5 water line. When so desired, however, the. plate* may be docked and} the cables 15 and" 26amreeled-for: causing the-tank to rest up n-the surface z of the; water for holding. the sec-4 ti'onal netiinitsji correct; position, for; engag. ing the tOI'PBdOLii. dvhileponl'y one-itank has been described ,';it isiolf :course' obvious'that it i's intended to use a -n'et of continuous con struction---'eXtending around, the entire ship; thus, necessitating the mounting of a number of tan'ks: and the operating elements neces sary: ion the; proper; force; of each tankZ,-z although it is not thought necessary to make such a disclosure in thepresenjt. case, since it o lcl me e y be asrepetitio fzthe closure-made in-,connection--'with the tank.

From the foregoing description it willjtbe; 1. eenx h'e a v yeflis nt o p do trap 12100 guard has been produced, which willbefcar-L- ried adjacent the waterlinegwhen in use, or, which may be, moved-. upwardly: to a ,point adj acentthe side; of; the, hull of the-ship", when not in. use. ltzwillqfurther be seen that; an etficient; means isprovided; gfo-rlift-F higT-the sectional net-above :thef-fw-ater: line; whilev permittingt'the tanks to remain: inthe water,v so as tof'alljow thenetqtof be almost'v instantly redi-loed";to an operative ;pos:itiorr',-- 1 0 while; an :eflioient arm provided 1 upon the: net for limiting the inward swinging movement of the net, thereby causingthe: Tmove-: mentf of the torpedo to be retarded :or PP d:

1115 What is claimed is: x I

I 1 In 'atorpe'do trap orguard, the combi nationof a tank,*-an arm extendingfromf said tank-"a net'ficarried 'uponsaid arm, a?

second arm :-projeotingvfronr said tank" and i being normally spaced 1 :EIUIHF said ine't, and said :last mentioned arm being adapted' to limit the 1 swinging movem'entvof, said not, when.:the""same is struclrbyatofPdo a torpedo'trap or guard, the ombi nation of a tank; mean-s tor supporting said tank at a spaced distance from thehul'l of a" in a m o-i itat e ai t -1 a, net'car-ried u on-saint arm; a secondarm pifo jectinglirom said tank 'fin-gers formedupon v said last mentioned arm, and said fingers being adapted to engagesaid net, when said net is swinging in one direction, whereby the swinging movement of the net in one direction may be limited.

3. In a torpedo trap or guard, the combination of a plate, means for lifting and lowering said plate, a tank, means for connecting said plate to said tank, a net supported by said tank, and said tank being adapted to be lifted by said plate, when not in use.

4. In a torpedo trap or guard, the combination of a shaft, tracks mounted upon said shaft, a plate slidably mounted upon said tracks, said plate having a rack, a finger engaging said rack means for retaining said finger, whereby said plate may be raised or lowered, a link connecting said tank to said plate, a net supported by said tank, and said plate being adapted to move upwardly for elevating said tank, when so desired.

5. In a torpedo trap or guard, the combination of floating means, means for supporting said floating means upon a ship, a sectional net carried upon said floating means, and a cable interwoven through said sectional net, whereby said cable may be drawn so as to fold said net when so desired.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

LOUIS E. ARMSTRONG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

